One swing might have just secured Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s Reds roster spot

Christian Encarnacion-Strand was not in the original lineup for the second game of the Cincinnati Reds' doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night at Fenway Park. But after watching him crush his first career grand slam over the Green Monster, Reds fans were quite happy that the revamped lineup included Cincinnati's slumping slugger.

Spencer Steer was initially scheduled to play first base for the Reds in Game 2 of the doubleheader, but after being hit by a pitch in Game 1, the infielder was scratched from starting lineup just moments before the nightcap began.

That lineup change thrust Encarnacion-Strand into the spotlight, and with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning, the slugger came through with a bases-clearing blast that may have just saved his roster spot going forward. The Reds were trailing 3-0 heading into the inning, but Encarnacion-Strand's grand slam put the Reds ahead and Cincinnati won by the final score of 8-4.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s Reds roster spot is secure for now

Encarnacion-Strand has been struggling this season. After a back injury caused him to miss nearly two months of action, Encarnacion-Strand returned in early-June and made an immediate impact. His three-hit performance and walk-off winner on June 6 announced his return in a major way, and Encarnacion-Strand then rattled off four straight games with a homer. Since then, however, it's been all down hill.

From June 10 through July 1, Encarnacion-Strand was hitting just .149/.184/.170 with a -9 wRC+. He'd become nearly unplayable, and were it not for similar struggles from Santiago Espinal, it's quite likely that Encarnacion-Strand would be little more than a bench bat.

Noelvi Marte is swinging a hot bat during his rehab assignment in the minor leagues, and there's a good chance he'll be back on the active roster for the Reds upcoming series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Had Encarnacion-Strand not crushed that titanic blast on Wednesday night, he could've very well been on his way back to the minors in exchange for Marte.

However, with the lack of clarity surrounding Steer's status and Encarnacion-Strand's clutch hit, it's doubtful that the former Minnesota Twins farmhand will be sent down in order to activate Marte from the IL. Espinal, however, could be in danger of losing his spot on the Reds roster.

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